Hat-tricks from Andy Wright and Mike Macfarlane against Cambridge sped Esher to their fifth victory in six games as they closed the gap at the top of National League 1.

It meant Ollie Smith’s side are within six points of the summit, even though they remain fourth in the table, after morning leaders Ealing Trailfinders suffered their first defeat of the season and were superseded by Rosslyn Park on points difference.

Beating the bottom side will also prove another handy stepping stone as Esher prepare to entertain Coventry on Saturday (November 10) and then head to Roehampton on Friday week for their derby with Rosslyn Park.

“It’s going to be a massive two weeks for us,” reckons Smith. “We say that about almost every game because if you want to win a league like this one then you have to go at it methodically and not get too far ahead of yourselves.

“But if we win the next two that will set us up very nicely.”

Cambridge had their own hat-trick hero in centre Albert Portsmouth, who kept them in touch for 58 minutes with the gap between the sides just three points.

But a haul of 26 points in the final 22 minutes finished them off, Gareth Morgan and Ian Kench being Esher’s other try scorers with full-back Rob Kirby adding four conversions plus a penalty.

The visitors had gone 15 points ahead in the opening 14 minutes, Kirby potting his penalty and then converting Macfarlane’s first score and then Wright striking.

Cambridge though fought back hard, Portsmouth and flanker Jimmy Mayhew going over – both converted by Elliot Bale – to close to within one point before fly-half Morgan struck.

Bale responded with a penalty and the hosts pressed hard only for a breakaway effort from Macfarlane, which Kirby converted, to put his side 10 points in front at the break.

The Portsmouth/Bale combination proved fruitful again eight minutes into the second half. Wright though claimed his second – Kirby adding the extras – seeing Kench and then No. 8 Macfarlane’s third pile up the points before completing his own treble. Portsmouth had the final word but his efforts were in vain.